HELP! Can I grind this down?
 

I'm having header clearance issues. I need to know if I'm going to get into anything important if I grind what looks like excess casting block down? See the red circles. I do know the bottom part I have to leave enough meat for the tranny bolt to hold. Thanks for any responses.

Re: HELP! Can I grind this down?
 

If it were me, I would. I mean it's not me but...Sure, what the heck.

Re: HELP! Can I grind this down?
 

I'm planning to unless somebody says don't. They look like attachment points for the casting/moving machinery to me...

Re: HELP! Can I grind this down?
 

I cut that lower one off on mine.

Re: HELP! Can I grind this down?
 

Closer up pics needed please

Re: HELP! Can I grind this down?
 

Question: What engine is it? LSx?

I've worked GM engines and overhauled a few but never really noticed or maybe never paid attention to the extension on the top.

Re: HELP! Can I grind this down?
 

Go ahead and grind them down, leaving enough around the mounting point for the bellhousing. They're not anywhere near the water jacket or oil passages back there. IMO, appears to be casting locator blocks for automated processes. Grind slowly and I did the same on a build and was fine. But I didn't take them all the way down, just enough to clear what was needed.

Re: HELP! Can I grind this down?
 

I will have to look at mine , but looks like that lower boss is for the starter bolt . What year engine is it . The upper one should not be a problem to trim .

Re: HELP! Can I grind this down?
 

I looked at my 6.0 that's sitting in the floor DO NOT GRIND THE SPOT WHERE THE STARTER BOLT GOES..the top spot you have marked it can be grinded some but I would for sure don't mess where the starter bolt goes. now my engine is different its a gen 3 but it should be the same the pic shown looks to a be gen4

Re: HELP! Can I grind this down?
 

Yeah the lower part has one of the starter bolts. Any grindin there will be minimal, just to take the corners off. I may have to dimple the header at that spot for clearance.

Thanks for the replies fellas!

Re: HELP! Can I grind this down?
 

I have to ask, what brand of headers are you using that has an interference in those areas? I would have thought by now that all of the LSx headers would fit properly.

Re: HELP! Can I grind this down?
 

They are Chinese ebay headers. The reviews had comments about having to clearance the block or trans. I thought I got lucky when I test fit them, but with the body on couldn't see the interference.

You get what you pay for, as always, lol.

"Do they fit?"

"Crose enough."

LOL

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...5&postcount=55

Re: HELP! Can I grind this down?
 

"You get what you pay for, as always, lol. "

Sometimes you gotta do what you have to do to get the truck running. I've been there.

I don't know if you saw my question about the year of the engine. I've never noticed the top extension before. Might help someone in the future.

Re: HELP! Can I grind this down?
 

I'm sorry 68gmsee, I did miss your question. The pic is just representative. I have a standard 2004 5.3 block. I have seen pics of some LS blocks that don't have the extensions though.

Re: HELP! Can I grind this down?
 

"Engine Masters" did a nice episode on headers and how much denting they can handle before you notice *any* power loss. Obviously you don't want to hammer it until it looks like garbage, but the exhaust system is fairly tolerant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azPKIjxmmdU

Re: HELP! Can I grind this down?
 

I would beat the crap out of the headers before taking the grinder to that area to remove a significant amount of material. I would round the corners, but nothing more.

If you crack or damage the starter area, there isn't a good way to fix it, and without a starter your engine is basically a big boat anchor.

Re: HELP! Can I grind this down?
 

I agree with the previous posts. By all means dimple the headers. No loss of performance or header life. David Vizard talked about this years ago in one of his books as not being a problem.

Re: HELP! Can I grind this down?
 

Thanks for the ideas and help guys. I completely cut off the top block even with the surrounding area with no problem. That was the biggest problem I was having. (pic 1 and 2, right and leftside respectively)

Down at the starter bolt, I just cut off the sharp edge and rounded it off. Should be no compromise to strength as I didn't grind any thinner that the thinnest part that was already there. (Pic 3)

I'm still going to have to grind the collector rings to clear, but not much. Should be GOOD TO GO!